Baseball glove construction

ABSTRACT

A baseball glove construction in which the outer shell is made up of a new arrangement of components that more closely conforms the glove to a shape which allows more than the usual control over the glove by the hand, and also a glove construction in which the lining shell is assembled with a unique arrangement of seams such that when inserted in the outer shell lumps and wearcreating gathers are avoided.

United States Patent l/l967 Denkert.................::::::

Pn'mary Examiner-James R. Boler Wm" m nm nm wmdn mn an t uaue .le aBGRKWLLDL 33344 08 012223436 999999999 111111111 606497548 1 118 12447736570 0358 9770950350 27590 0 90 ,5, 111112223 n m y 0 m Nu m h 0 W Cvu- 6 m 8 9 8 m t 9|. m 0nD. ww mn S a 5 05.5 6 dW NU mu 9 mu M lua -lwnl oesupa onl RB8AARSC6 T 0. de m N mm H .L ng C emwfl m DAHQS l AFPA l11]] 2 253 7 2247 l [Ill [54] BASEBALL GLOVE CONSTRUCTION 6 Claims, 11Drawing Figs. [52] US.

[51] lnt.Cl... [50] more closely conforms the glove than the usualcontrol over the glove construction in which the lining shell isassembled with a References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l/1928Hiltenbeitel.........;........

unique arrangement of seams such that when inserted in the 2/ 19 outershell lumps and wear-creating gathers are avoided.

PATENTEB m2? |97l SHEET 1 BF 3 FIG. 7

INVENTOR ROLAND N. LATINA ATTORNEYS PATENTEU APR27 [9H SHEET 2 BF 3INVENTOR ROLAND N. LATINA ATTORNEYS PATENTEU APR27 I971 SHEET 3 BF 3INVENTOR ROLAND N. LATINA FIG. 10

ATTORNEYS BASEBALL GLOVE CONSTRUCTION This application is a continuationof application Ser. No. 671,796, filed Sept. 29, 1967, now abandoned.

This invention relates to baseball gloves and particularly to a uniqueconstruction in which an outer shell and a lining shell are formed andfitted to produce a more readily controlled glove and to provide asmooth surface in the ball-catching pocket that retains its shape freeof lumps and ridges.

A problem of long standing with baseball players is the lack of controlover the glove when it is hit by a fast-moving ball or when the playerhas to make a catch in a difficult situation where only the glove handis available. The lack of control is in large part due directly to thewide open and broad hand opening at the wrist strap and button lap andthe long prevailing provision of an opening inside of the usual wriststrap which latter opening prevented any revisions in the traditionalmanner of making gloves.

A problem, also of long standing, is the inability of glove linings toremain for long in a shape that will not develop lumps and knotty seamswhich seriously affect the desired smooth lay of the palm ply after aperiod of use. A prime reason for the knotty or lumpy seams is the wayof the lining shell sewing is performed. Prior art glove constmctionhave the lining shell composed of two plies in which one ply is widerthan the other so that tunnels are formed to receive the fingers, but insewing the plies the edges in the crotch area turn in such a manner thatthe edges turn outward to form hard lumps or ridges when inserted in theouter shell. These edges turn upward under the palm ply of the outershell so that ridges are impressed in the palm ply after a short periodof use. The location of the seam edges is generally in the ball-catchingarea of the palm ply which results in rapid wear of the ply and alsoproduces an uncomfortable feel for the player when hit by a ball.

It is, therefore, an important object of this invention to construct abaseball glove which embodies features that overcome the problems ofprior art glove constructions.

It is an important object of this invention to construct a glove or mittwith a new outer shell arrangement that results in more easilyconforming the glove shape to the players hand and increases the degreeof control over the glove.

It is also an important object of this invention .to provide a new wayof constructing a glove lining shell in which the tuming of the seams isavoided, especially in the crotch areas.

Another object of this invention is to provide a glove constructed in amanner to avoid lumps and knots in the ball catching areas of the palmply of the outer shell.

Other objects of this invention are to overcome the problems of priorart constructions for baseball gloves and to embody a new and uniqueconstruction having the features hereinafter enumerated.

One embodiment of the present invention will be set forth in thefollowing description, having reference to the several views in theaccompanying drawings wherein a prior art example is shown forconvenience.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rear side of a baseball glove inwhich the features of this invention are incorporated;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the wrist adjustmentembodied in the glove of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary rear view of the lining shell construction ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken at line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front view of the lining shell in which thepresently improved construction is seen;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of the rear side of a lining assembly ofprior art construction;

FIG. 7 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view of the face side of thelining in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a section view taken at line 8-8 in FIG. 6 of the prior art;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a modification in themanner of constructing the lining shell;

FIG. 10 is a further modification upon the construction shown in FIG. 9;and

FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view taken at line 11-11 in FIG. 10.

The baseball glove of this invention is seen in its assembled conditionat 10 in FIG. 1. The glove is provided with an outer shell having a backply made up collectively of a number of separate pieces and indicatedcollectively by the reference numeral 11, and a face ply (not believednecessary to show, but of the general one-piece character shown in FIG.1 of Latina U.S. Pat. No. 2,995,756, and FIG. 4 of Latina U.S. Pat. No.2,995,757, both issued Aug. 15, 1961, the back stop or sixth finger ofthe patented gloves being replaced by the herein disclosed backstop)that are joined at bound side edges 12 and 13 by one or more lengths ofthong 14 which are looped through suitable openings 15. The thong 14also is threaded through openings 16 across the base edge 17 of theopening 18 for the insertion of a players hand.

The characteristics of the improved outer shell as seen in FIG. 1 willbe dealt with first. The back ply 11 of the outer shell is composed of aplurality of strips which, beginning at the little finger side 19 of theglove and extending to the thumb side 20, are indicated at 21, 22, 23,24, 25 and 26. The strip or fourchette 22 is jointed by a seam 27 tostrip 21 and by a second seam 28 to strip or fourchette 23. Strip orfourchette 24 is joined by seam 29 to strip or fourchette 23 and by aseam 30 to strip or fourchette 25, and a seam 31 joins strip or handfourchette 25 to strip 26. When assembled the strips constitute the backply 11 of the glove 10 in which is provided adjacent finger stalls 32,33, 34 and 35, and thumb stall 36. A suitable backstop web 37 is securedbetween the thumb stall 36 and the next adjacent finger stall 35. It canbe seen that the strips collectively extend lengthwise of the shell fromthe outer extremities of the fingers and thumb to the hand opening 18thereby avoiding the usual enlarged wrist and hand opening and doingaway with the usual type of wrist strap and button lap, all of whichhave been common construction with prior gloves. The strips are shapedso that together the glove shell is tapered down to the reduced handopening 18, but can be opened up at the sides 12 and 13 duringmanufacture to receive the lining shell of FIG. 3, or the modificationsof FIGS. 9 or 10. The present back ply construction therefore produces aglove that is considerably stronger than prior art examples, is

capable of hugging the players hand in a more secure manner, and is freeof excessive openings that create looseness problems and develop areasof structural weakness where tearing usually starts.

Baseball players hands differ greatlyin size and players have distinctpreferences for a snug or loose fit ofa glove at the hand opening 18.While an average opening 18 is provided, the same is rendered adjustableby a pair of straps extending across the back ply 11. It is seen thatone strap portion 38 is anchored near the base of the thumb 36 by havingits hid- 40 and 41 and then turned back on itself around ring 40 andunder ring 41 where it may be frictionally cinched by the rings. Thehidden opposite end of strap portion 42 is secured in the edge binding12 near the base of the little finger 32 remote fromthe thumb 36. Theintermediate length of the strap portion 42 is held in position acrossthe back ply 11 by loops 44 and 45 carried by the finger strips 23 and24, such loops being preferably formed by slash cuts in the strips. Itis, of course, appreciated that the adjustment strap portions 38 and 42may be reversed so that the slip buckle or other fastening means islocated adjacent the base of the little finger. It is also appreciatedthat the loops 44 and 45 may be stitched to the strips 23 and 24 ratherthan being formed integrally as shown. Other variations on installationof the adjustable wrist strap can be adopted, like putting the fasteningor slip buckle means on strap 42 adjacent portion 33.

j The glove lining shell 46 of the present glove may be seen in FIGS. 3,4 and 5, and in some part in H6. 1. The shell 46 is composed of a facingply 47 and a backing ply Q8. The facing ply 47 in layout plan is seen inFIG. to have a plurality of finger extensions 49, 50, 51 and 52, and athumb extension 53. The finger extensions have crotch areas 5 3, 55 and56, and there is a crotch area 57 between the thumb extension 53 and theadjacent finger extension 52. On the other hand the back ply 48 as seenin FIG. 3 is composed of finger strips 58, 59 and 60 and an enlargedfinger strip 61 which includes the thumb extension 62. These strips aresecured together at seams 63, 64 and 65, and said seams end at crotchareas 66, 67 and 68 respectively. The crotch area 69 adjacent the thumbextension 62 is substantially coextensive with the face ply crotch area57 as may be seen in FIG. 6. The crotch areas 66, 67 and 68 for thefinger extensions 53, 59, 60 and 61 (FIG. 3) respectively are spaced agreater distance inwardly from the extremities of the fingers than arethe crotch areas 54, 55 and 56 of the face ply 47, thereby creatingsubstantially flat web portions 70, 71 and 72 in the face ply'd7 thatare exposed between the extension strips of the back ply 48.

As may be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 the back ply finger extensions 58, 59,6t! and 61 are wider than the associated extensions 49, 50, 51 and 52 ofthe face ply 47. This difference in width is important to form tunnelsor pockets P between the face ply 47 and the back ply 48 in the fingerextensions when the marginal edges are secured together by stitching.The stitching thread 73 (FIG. 3) runs around the edges of the littlefinger extension 58, passed the crotch area 54 of the face ply 47 andruns to the crotch area 66, then similarly along the edges and crotchareas of the succeeding finger extensions to the edge of the extension61. This run of stitching may continue at 74 passed the crotch area 69adjacent the thumb extension 62. In the example shown, crotch secondline of stitching 75 extends into the crotch area 69 for the thumb toretain the facing and backing plies substantially flat and preventswrinkling and buckling when the lining shell is installed within theouter shell.

Turning now to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, a typical example of the prior art isshown in sulficient detail to illustrate the problem which the presentinvention overcomes. in FIG. 6 the lining shell 77 has the crotch areas78, 79 and 80 for both the face and back plies substantially inalignment, and the stitching 8i secures the margins 82 and 83 together.As may be seen in FIG. 7, the edges 82 and 83 in the respective crotchareas 73, 79 and 30 must turn because of the way they are sewn together,and the turn is into the face ply which produces a hard ridge orprojection that pushes into the face ply of the outer shell. As may bemore clearly seen in FIG. 8, the turned edges 82 and 83 projectoutwardly. The resulting projections 82 and 83 form a series of hardridges that soon interrupt the smooth condition of the palm ply of theouter shell, especially in the ball-catching area of the glove.

In FIG. 9 the lining shell 46a is modified with respect to the backingply 484 while the facing ply 47 is unchanged from that seen in FIG. 5.More specifically the backing ply is composed of shortened finger strips580, 59a, 60a and 61a, and a shortened thumb strip 620. These strips arestitched or seamed together at seams 63a, 64a and 65a. These changesover the view of FIG. 3 make up the modification, it being understoodthat the usual layer of padding (not included for sake of clarity) isprovided for the lining shell. In other respects the view of FIG. 9 issimilar to FIG. 3 and like reference numerals will refer to like parts.The shell of FIG. 9 conserves on the use of the glove lining material bynot extending the finger and thumb strips out to the full length of thefinger and thumb extension on the facing ply. However, the stitching 73and 74 is usually required to hold the padding in position.

A further modification is seen in FIGS. and 11 where the lining for aglove or mitt may consist principally of the facing ply 67, as in H68. 5and 9, to which is secured strp means 77 in position to extend crosswiseof the glove at e position between the crotches in the facing ply andthe most inwardly or deepest penetration of the stitching 73a. Thus, themeans 77 is secured in position by the stitching and by proper looping(FIG. 11) the means 77 can provide stalls for the fingers. These stallsprovide pressure points for the fingers, just as do the backing ply 48or 48a previously described, thereby giving the player secure controlover the glove under playing conditions. The several finger receivingloops are seen in FIG. ll at 78, 79, and 81, whereas in FIG. 4 a similararrangement is provided with the material of the loops independent ofeach other.

It can now be appreciated in what manner the construction of the presentinvention overcomes the problem of the prior .art constructions, andalso improves the overall construction of gloves so that a considerablyneater glove results and one with a long lasting, smooth, ball-catchingpocket. In the foregoing description it is to be understood that theterm glove shall also include mitts.

I claim:

1. In a baseball glove having an outer shell formed with finger stalls,the improvement of a lining shell having face and back plies, each plyhaving finger extensions with the extensions of the back ply being widerthan the extensions of the face ply and each of said plies having crotchareas between the finger extensions with the crotch areas in said pliesbeing out of registry, and stitching securing the finger extensions withthe marginal edges in overlying adjacency such that the wider extensionsof the back ply are raised relative to the extensions of the face ply toform finger-receiving tunnels, said stitching being continued past thecrotch area of one ply and into and around the crotch area of the otherply.

2. The glove improvement set forth in claim I and in which the crotchareas of the face are disposed closer to the outer extremities of thefinger extensions than the crotch areas of the back ply, said stitchingretaining the marginal edges of said back ply fiatwise on said face ply.

3. The glove improvement set forth in claim 1 and in which the liningshell is formed with a thumb-receiving tunnel having face and backplies, said thumb tunnel being spaced from an adjacent finger tunnel bya crotch area, stitching joining the margins of said thumb tunnel plies,and other stitching extending about said last crotch area for securingthe crotch area plies against wrinkling.

4. In a baseball glove the improvement of an outer shell composed offace and back piles joined together to form finger and thumb stalls andintervening crotch areas inwardly of the outer free extremities of saidstalls, said plies having margins in adjacent, substantially overlyingand unconnected relationship to define a hand opening into said outershell to communicate with said finger and thumb stalls, said handopening being located a greater distance from said crotch areas than thedistance from said crotch areas to said outer free extremities, liningmeans disposed in said outer shell and including at least one plyextending into said stalls, and means at each side of said hand openingconnecting said face and back plies and holding said lining means inposition, said last means effectively restricting the width of said handopening to a dimension that is less than the width of the glove acrossthe finger stalls adjacent the crotch areas.

5. The improvement set forth in claim 4 and in which said back ply ofthe outer shell is composed of a plurality of pieces seamed together andextending from the outer free extremities of said stalls to saidhand-opening margin, and said lining means is composed of a second plyat least partially extending into certain of said stalls.

6. The improvement set forth in claim 4 and in which other means iscarried by said lining means adjacent the entrances to said finger andthumb stalls in position to furnish pressure points within the glove forcontrol thereof by the fingers of the wearer.

1. In a baseball glove having an outer shell formed with finger stalls,the improvement of a lining shell having face and back plies, each plyhaving finger extensions with the extensions of the back ply being widerthan the extensions of the face ply and each of said plies having crotchareas between the finger extensions with the crotch areas in said pliesbeing out of registry, and stitching securing the finger extensions withthe marginal edges in overlying adjacency such that the wider extensionsof the back ply are raised relative to the extensions of the face ply toform finger-receiving tunnels, said stitching being continued past thecrotch area of one ply and into and around the crotch area of the otherply.
 2. The glove improvement set forth in claim 1 and in which thecrotch areas of the face are disposed closer to the outer extremities ofthe finger extensions than the crotch areas of the back ply, saidstitching retaining the marginal edges of said back ply flatwise on saidface ply.
 3. The glove improvement set forth in claim 1 and in which thelining shell is formed with a thumb-receiving tunnel having face andback plies, said thumb tunnel being spaced from an adjacent fingertunnel by a crotch area, stitching joining the margins of said thumbtunnel plies, and other stitching extending about said last crotch areafor securing the crotch area plies against wrinkling.
 4. In a baseballglove the improvement of an outer shell composed of face and back pilesjoined together to form finger and thumb stalls and intervening crotchareas inwardly of the outer free extremities of said stalls, said plieshaving margins in adjacent, substantially overlying and unconnectedrelationship to define a hand opening into said outer shell tocommunicate with said finger and thumb stalls, said hand opening beinglocated a greater distance from said crotch areas than the distance fromsaid crotch areas to said outer free extremities, lining means disposedin said outer shell and including at least one ply extending into saidstalls, and means at each side of said hand opening connecting said faceand back plies and holding said lining means in position, said lastmeans effectively restricting the width of said hand opening to adimension that is less than the width of the glove across the fingerstalls adjacent the crotch areas.
 5. The improvement set forth in claim4 and in which said back ply of the outer shell is composed of aplurality of pieces seamed together and extending from the outer freeextremities of said stalls to said hand-opening margin, and said liningmeans is composed of a second ply at least partially extending intocertain of said stalls.
 6. The improvement set forth in claim 4 and inwhich other means is carried by said lining means adjacent the entrancesto said finger and thumb stalls in position to furnish pressure pointswithin the glove for control thereof by the fingers of the wearer.